Board of Education

Closing any school in Newtown, especially the historic Hawley Elementary School, is not a good idea. Hawley turns 100 years old in six years and was one of the six gifts given to the town of Newtown by Elizabeth Hawley. Not many towns have history like that. We need to keep and preserve this historical resource and not let it fall into decay like the buildings at Fairfield Hills.

I'm not from Newtown. In fact I grew up over 3,000 miles away in London, England. However, over the last 13 years Newtown has become my home town, due in large part to the school communities that have warmly welcomed our family.

As a local Newtown business owner for 15 years and now finally a resident of Newtown, I was ecstatic about entering my three young children into the Hawley Elementary School this fall, in 2017 and then again in 2018. With the threat of it closing, I am deeply saddened and fearful for my community.

*I strongly believe any upward and positive momentum after 12/14 will be in severe jeopardy.

If you were fortunate enough to be on Church Hill Road Wednesday morning, you might have seen the best illustration of why we need Hawley School in the center of our town: 50 kindergartners joyously marched along the sidewalk from Hawley to Big Y on an annual field trip that has become one of the beloved traditions of the school. It was beautiful. It was educational. It was community. It was a visible sign of the heart of Newtown.

We are writing to express our strong opposition to the recommendation of closing Hawley Elementary School and our deep concerns as members of the Newtown community.

We moved to Newtown three years ago looking for the best education for our oldest son who was about to enter Kindergarten in 2011. Currently our children attend Hawley (3rd and 2nd grade) and in the near future kinder garden in 2016. We have read Dr. Erardi presentation to the BOE and we have so many concerns.

Superintendent of Schools Joseph V. Erardi, Jr, noted at the Board of Education’s meeting on Tuesday, June 2, that the educators who will be retiring at the end of this school year have spent a total of 354 years working in the district.

Recognizing and celebrating the “careers of master teachers,” Dr Erardi said, is one of his favorite things to do as a superintendent.

A facility and enrollment study, presented by Superintendent of Schools Joseph V. Erardi, Jr, at the Board of Education’s meeting on Tuesday, June 2, recommends closing Hawley Elementary School due to declining enrollment.

While Hawley Elementary School was the main focus during the presentation, cost estimates were also provided for the closure of the middle school.

“This is difficult work, and this is work that makes folks very unhappy,” said Dr Erardi.

After Superintendent of Schools Joseph V. Erardi, Jr, presented configurations during the Board of Education's meeting on Tuesday, June 2, for closing a school in the district, he said the Facility and Enrollment Study Committee endorses closing an elementary school.

Hawley Elementary School was the main focus during the presentation, but cost estimates were also provided if Newtown Middle School were closed.

"This is difficult work, and this is work that makes folks very unhappy," said Dr Erardi.